Washing, mixing and like machinery



Oct. 25, 1960 N. D. coop 2,957,332

WASHING, MIXING AND LIKE MACHINERY Filed Dec. 24, 1957 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J/VVENTOR Nor/27am Dennis Coop ATTORNEYS N. D. COOP Oct. 25, 1960 WASHING, MIXING AND LIKE MACHINERY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 24, 1957 FIG.3

INVENTOR Norma/z Den/1Z5 Coo 0 ATTORNEYS Oct. 25, 1960 N. D. COOP 2,957,332

WASHING, MIXING AND LIKE MACHINERY Filed Dec. 24, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3- I 10 10 20 18' 17 l l 55 FIG.7

'mmwrmz A ofman Denm' s Coo o A TTORNEYS United States Patent WASHING, MIXING AND LIKE MACHlNERY Norman Dennis Coop, 21 Worcester Road, Blackpool, England Filed Dec. 24, 1957, Set. No. 705,047

3 Claims. c1. 68-190) This invention of improvements in or relating to washing and mixing machinery, and like machinery refers primarily to washing machines for laundering textile articles or fabrics but may also be adapted for use as a means for homogenizing miscible liquids, or mixing solids with liquids, by hydraulic jets for the textile or chemical industries.

Washing machines or mixing machinery as at present constructed usually embody mechanical impellers, agitators or beaters for creating the necessary turbulence in the liquid which require a not inconsiderable power in driving and, further, in the case of laundering machines, the mechanical impellers or the like are liable to damage fabrics or articles being laundered, particularly if they are of a flimsy nature and also the mechanical impellers or the like cause undesirable wear and tear on other articles in general.

The present invention has for its object the provision of machinery of the type referred to in which the use of mechanical impellers, agitators or heaters for creating the requisite turbulence is entirely eliminated, the means by which the required turbulence or agitation is obtained comprising hydraulic pressure jets so placed in opposed pairs and so adapted to operate as to act on the liquid in a manner to imitate the turbulence set up by the blades of one or more oscillating or reversing impellers.

According to a further feature of the invention, machinery for use in laundering or mixing operations includes a cylindrical tank having inlet and outlet connections and being furnished with pairs superposed and opposed jets arranged in spaced relation circumferentially and centrally of said tank, an electric motor, hydraulic pump, jet timing mechanism, outlet and return pipes to jets on the delivery side of the pump with a three-Way valve intercalated in the circuit operable to permit the tank to be emptied by the pump, and means for supplying hot or cold water to the tank, and also means for supplying steam thereto.

In an advantageous embodiment the tank has an open top and a fiat bottom having a sump with an outlet for drainage purposes, and located centrally on the tank is a vertical column having a multiplicity of vertical chambers arranged in pairs and each in communication with the interior of the tank by means of vertically superposed nozzles, forming jets. The tank is furnished around its circumference with pairs of chambers arranged opposite to the pairs of chambers in the central column, and each circumferential chamber is furnished with nozzles directed inwards and forming jets, the wall of the respective chambers next to the interior of the tank having perforations registering with the respective jets in the said chambers.

For convenience in the following description the jetforming nozzles will hereinafter be referred to as jets.

The jets are set at an angle to a tank radius passing through the jet and in pairs of an outwardly and inwardly directed jet adapted to converge on an imaginary circle dividing the annulus between the tank and the jet column into two equal areas. Thus, a jet on the inside vertical surface of the tank has its co-operating jet on the central jet column, the two jets being adapted to operate simultaneously in the same clockwise or anti-clockwise direction.

In the following description the term pair comprises one internally and one externally directed jet on adjacent tank radii and on the same horizontal plane, both operating in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. The term set comprises two opposed pairs of jets, each pair being on adjacent tank radii, and the lines joining the jets of each pair being at an angle approximately equal to the angles between the blades of the impeller whose turbulent action it is desired to imitate.

To imitate the turbulent action of an oscillating impeller blade a minimum of four jets is necessary.

It is to be understood that imitation of turbulence resulting from two or more contra oscillating or contra reversing impeller blades on adjacent levels may be arranged for, the jets being superposed one above the other.

While jets on one level are operating clockwise, the jets on the adjacent level are operating counter-clockwise.

Increased turbulence may be obtained if instead of one jet, the number of jets is multiplied throughout the depth of the tank liquid, the jets being arranged in a vertical plane, as in imitation of a three-deep-bladed impeller.

The turbulent action of an equispaced three-bladed impeller oscillating through an angle of may be matched by providing three sets of jets, the turbulence being imitated by operating first the right-hand pairs of the set of jets simultaneously, and then the left-hand pairs of the sets of jets simultaneously. Similar action may be taken with four, or more, equispaced bladed oscillating impellers. Also, the desired turbulence from two, three or more contra oscillating or contra reversing impellers at adjacent levels may be imitated.

The period of duration of the jets determines whether turbulence produced is in imitation of that produced by a partial revolution oscillation, or a full revolution oscillation of the impeller. A short jet duration will cause the liquid to be pushed part Way round the tank in one direction and then back, while a longer duration of jet will cause the liquid to be pushed all the way round the tank in one direction and then back. With a still, longer duration of jet the liquid is pushed around the tank a number of times and as the jets operate alternately in one direction and then in the opposite direction, the liquid is pushed in the opposite direction an equal number of times.

In the last described case the turbulence created is in imitation of the turbulence resulting from an impeller being rotated first in a clockwise and then in a counterclockwise direction.

Such action is advantageous in connection with a mixing operation as well as a washing operation.

Further, by arranging for angular setting of the jets in a vertical plane, the axial thrust of a propeller type of impellet may be imitated which is advantageous in mixing operations.

All the jets are suitably masked to prevent clothes fouling them.

The liquid is drained through the outlet of the sump in the tank body already alluded to.

The operations for washing and mixing for chemical and textile industries are similar to those described for laundering purposes.

It is to be understood that all jet velocities, and the number, position and angles of the jets are designed to obtain maximum turbulence, and that, hydraulic pump pressure, and jet timing mechanism are designed to provide the desired eifectve speeds and pressures.

Description will now be given of a practical construction of washing machine according to the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. Us a vertical sectional elevation of a washing machine;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a detail part of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan, partly sectional, of the machine shown in Figure 1, with the cover removed;

Figures 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views illustrating the action of the machine, as later described; 7

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic layout of a single washing machine, and

Figures 7 and 8 show in side elevation and plan a diagrammatic layout of a battery of three machines.

The same reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings, but are distinguished in one case by the addition of an exponent.

I Referring particularly to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 6 of the drawings, 10 indicates a tank of cylindrical construction, with a vertical wall 11 and a fiat bottom 12, and with an open flanged top furnished with a lid 13 hinged to'the tank 10 as indicated at 13a and counterbalanced by spring means indicated at 13b, the lid being adapted to be secured in closed position by fasteners, indicated at 14, see Figure 1. The tank 10 is supported on pillars 15, e.g. three spaced around the base, as indicated in Figure 3. Secured to the underside of the tank 19 is a chest 16 comprising a 'lower chamber 17 and an upper chamber 18. The lower chamber 17 is furnished with a delivery pipe 19, and the upper chamber 18 with a delivery pipe 20, the pipes 19 and 20 being connected to the delivery pipe 21 of a pump 22 by means of a breeches pipe 23. A valve 24 is intercalated between the pipe 19 and the breeches pipe 23 and a further valve is intercalated between the pipe 20 and the breeches pipe 23, see Figs. 3 and 6. The valves 24 and 25 are in operative connection with an electric motor indicated diagrammatically at 26 in Figure 6. 27 indicates a suction pipe connecting the lower part of the tank 10 to the suction side of the pump 22, a standard filter being intercalated in the suction pipe line 27, as indicated at 28 in Figs. 3 and 6.. A three-way valve 29 is intercalated in the delivery pipe line 21, the valve 29 being also in connection with a drain pipe indicated at 30, in .Figs. 3 and 6. 31 indicates a main supply pipe connected with the suction side of the pump 22, the main supply pipe 31 being connected to a cold water Supply pipe 33 and a hot water supply pipe 34,'by way of a mixing valve 35, see Figure 6. 36 indicates an overflow pipe, indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 6 and in detail in Fig. 2.

Located centrally. within the tank 10 is a vertical column 37 formed with six cylindrical chambers arranged in pairs 38a and 38b, as shown in Figure 3, and each formed with a vertical row of ports. 39, in each of which is secured a nozzle, hereinafter referred to as a jet, the said jets projecting radially with respect to the cylindrical chambers. 7

The jets in the chambers 38a are indicated by the reference numeral 40, while the jets in the chambers 38b are indicated by the reference numeral 41.

42 indicates a cylindrical shroud which fits over the central column 37 and the jets 40, 41, the wall of theshroud being formed with apertures 43 registering with the jets 40 and 41, see Figs. 1 and 3. 7

The top of the shroud 42 is domed and provided with a central recess and lifting bar 44.

45 indicates a perforated plate having a central aperture 46 and a circular flange 47, the plate 45 being adapted to fit around the shroud 42 and to be supported in spaced relation with the bottom 12 of the tank 10 by the flange 47 whereby to form. a false bottom to the tank. The plate 45 is held against rotation relatively to the shroud '42 by ribs 45a on the underside of the plate engaging in slots formed in the periphery of the basal flange 37a of the central vertical column37, see Figs. 1 and 3.

Located on the outer wall of the tank 10 and spaced around the tank are three casings, there being a casing opposite to each pair of central chambers 38a, 38b.

Each casing is formed by a block 48 in conjunction with a removable cover 48a having a central division wall, whereby when the cover is screwed into position there is provided two chambers 49a and 49b.

The chamber 49a is furnished with a vertical row of jets 50 at an angle to the tank radius at that point screwed into corresponding ports 51 in the inner wall of said chamber. The chamber 49b is furnished with a vertical row of jets 52 at an angle to the tank radius at that point screwed into corresponding ports 53 in the inner wall of said chamber.

The chambers 49a, 49b communicate with the interior of the tank 10 through the ports 51 and 53 respectively.

The jets 50 project in the same clockwise direction as the jets 40, while the jets 52 project in the same anticlockwise direction as the jets 41.

The chambers 38a furnished with the jets 40 are in communication with the lower chamber 17 by means of connecting ports 54. The chambers 49a furnished with the jets 50 are in communication with the lower chamber 17 by way of pipes 55. The chambers 38b furnished with the jets 41 are in communication with the upper chamber 18 by way of apertures 56 in'the floor of each chamber 38b. The chambers 49b furnished with the jets 52 are in communication with the upper chamber 18 by means of pipes 57.

In the operation of the washing machine the clothes are placed in the machine and the tank 10 is'filled to the desired level with cold water from a source of supply by starting the pump 22, the filling being advantageously controlled by an electric clock meter, not shown, calibrated in gallons. During this operation solid detergent may be added to the liquid in the tank 10, or a liquid stock solution may be added from a stock tank connected to the suction pipe 27. The cover 13 is closed down and the tank contents may be raised to operational temperature by steam injection. To create the required turbulence the motor 26 is started to operate the valves 24 and 25 alternately at the desired speed on filling with cold water. When the valve 24 is opened liquid from the tank 10 is circulated by the pump 22 and forced through the pipe 19 into the lower chamber 17, part of said liquid passing through the ports 54 into the respective chambers 38a to be forced out through the jets 40, and part passing via the pipes 55 to the respective chambers 49a to be forced out through the jets 50. The jets 50 drive the liquid around the tank 10 in clockwise direction, as indicated at Fig. 4, while the jets 40 impinge on the jets 50 on an imaginary circle dividing the annulus between the tank and the jet column into two equal areas, as indicated at C in Fig. 4, so creating a turbulence.

After a predetermined time the valve 24 is closed and then the valve 25 opened, whereupon the liquid is forced by the pump 22 through the pipe 20 into the upper chamber 18, some passing by way of the apertures 56 to the vertical chamber 38b to be forced through the jets 41, and some passing through the pipes 57 to the chambers 49b to be forced through the jets 52.

The discharge of the jets 41 and 52 is opposite in direction to that of the jets 40 and 50 and the liquid is therefore now forced around the tank in a counter-clockwise direction, the reversal of current creating an increased turbulence. i

The constant alternation of direction of the jet forces creates a great turbulence which imitates the turbulence created by the blades of an equi-spaced three bladed oscillating or reversing impeller...

The timing of the operation of the valves 24, 25 may be arranged to give the same effect as that of such an impeller moving to-and-fro through an angle of or one complete revolution in alternately opposite directions, or a number of revolutions in one direction followed by the same number in the opposite direction.

The turbulence created in the liquid in the manner described results in a perfect laundering of the articles in the tank without risk of damage as experienced with blade impellers or beaters.

At the conclusion of the washing time, the valve 29 is opened to the drain, thus cutting off the through way to the pipe 21, and free liquid from the tank is discharged through the pipe 30.

The valve 29 is then closed to the drain and opened to the through-way and simultaneously the supply valve is opened to admit water for rinsing purposes. The supply of rinse water from main 31 may be progressively reduced from hot to cold by means of the mixing valve 35. A continuous overflow rinse takes place for the desired time through the medium of the chambered cover 13, water passing through a circumferential ring of perforations 130 in the cover 13, and through a registering vent 13d in the cover 13 to the overflow pipe 36.

The supply valve is now closed and the valve 29 opened to drain whereupon the pump 22 empties the tank of free liquid and is then switched oft".

The washing and rinsing operations are now completed.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 1 that the bottom row of jets 40, 41 is angled slightly upwards, the efiect of this being to prevent articles in the tank 10 from settling on the bottom.

The swirling action of the liquid in the tank causes the creation of a miniature vortex which causes the upper row of jets 40 or 41 on the centre column 37 to be uncovered by the liquid and the discharge from these uncovered jets acting on the surface of the liquid keeps the articles in the liquid fully immersed.

The invention has so far been described as a single unit operation.

The diagram shown in Figs. 7 and 8 shows a battery of three machines.

Parts corresponding to those described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6 are indicated by the same reference characters distinguished by the additional of the exponent 1.

The operation of the individual machines is the same as that previously described.

Isolating valves indicated at 58, 59 are intercalated in the pipe lines 19 20 and at 60 in the pipe line 27 whereby the respective tanks may be isolated from the supply lines during loading or unloading.

Although the description has so far referred to the operation of a washing machine, it is to be understood that similar operations take place in reference to a mixing machine.

I claim:

1. In Washing machinery, mixing machinery and like machinery in which the required turbulence or agitation is obtained by liquid pressure jets, a cylindrical tank having inner and outer walls forming an annular cavity for containing liquids and other materials; pairs of juxtaposed outwardly directed jet nozzles located at the inner wall of the tank; and pairs of juxtaposed companion inwardly directed jet nozzles located at the outer wall of the tank opposite said outwardly directed nozzles, said pairs of jet nozzles being respectively superposed to form vertical rows circumferentially spaced around the annular cavity of the tank, the nozzles of each pair diverging in opposite directions from a radius of the tank extending between them, and the angle of divergence of the companion inwardly and outwardly directed nozzles which diverge in the same clockwise direction from the radii of the tank being such that their liquid streams tend to converge at places substantially midway between the inner and outer walls of the tank and act upon the liquid and other material in the tank to cause circulation thereof about the axis of the tank when liquid under pressure is supplied to said nozzles.

2. The washing machinery, mixing machinery and like machinery as defined in claim 1, in which there is liquid supply duct means leading to all the nozzles which diverge in clockwise direction from the radii of the tank, and another liquid supply duct means leading to the nozzles which diverge in anticlockwise direction from the radii of the tank.

3. The washing machinery, mixing machinery and like machinery as defined in claim 2, in which there is liquid discharge duct means connected at one end to the tank; a liquid pump connected to the other end of the discharge duct means; and a two-way valve connected to the output side of the liquid pump, said two inlet duct means being respectively connected to opposite sides of the two-Way valve, whereby liquid under pressure may alternately be conducted to said respective inlet duct means and the nozzles connected thereto, said tank, discharge duct means, pump, two-way valve, inlet duct means and nozzles forming a closed liquid recirculating system.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 571,758 Foster Nov. 24, 1896 1,850,124 Bean Mar. 22, 1932 2,227,926 Drum Jan. 7, 1941 2,322,743 Bell June 29, 1943 2,711,641 Grofi June 28, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 492,058 Germany Feb. 20, 1930 781,752 Great Britain Aug. 28, 1957 

